Angioplasty device

Abstract

The invention relates to an angioplasty device for treating stenoses or occlusions that facilitates the diagnosis and visualisation of the stenosis and the treatment control having a duct dedicated to the injection of the contrast product.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An angioplasty device comprising:
 a flexible tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and having a proximal part, which includes the proximal end, and a distal part, which includes the distal end, the tubular body comprising: 
 a multipurpose conduit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and opening out at the proximal end, at the distal end and into one or more injection orifices situated in the distal part such that a guide wire having a predetermined external diameter can be inserted into the multipurpose conduit, through both the distal end of the multipurpose conduit and the proximal end of the multipurpose conduit, and the tubular body can slide along the guide wire, wherein the multipurpose conduit has a diameter greater than the external diameter of the guide wire along an entire length of the tubular body, except for an end part of the distal part, where the multipurpose conduit has a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the guide wire, wherein the multipurpose conduit is configured for injection of a contrast agent of a viscosity in a patient through the proximal end of the multipurpose conduit, and through the one or more injection orifices, when the guide wire is in an inserted configuration in the multipurpose conduit; 
 an inflatable angioplasty balloon positioned around the tubular body in the distal part; and 
 an inflation conduit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and opening out at the proximal end and into the angioplasty balloon, such that injection of a fluid into the angioplasty balloon will inflate the angioplasty balloon, the inflation conduit being leaktight with respect to the multipurpose conduit. 
 
     
     
       2. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the angioplasty balloon is positioned around the end part of the multipurpose conduit, such that the tubular body has substantially the same diameter along an entire length thereof. 
     
     
       3. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the injection orifices are distributed radially about the tubular body. 
     
     
       4. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the injection orifices include at least one downstream injection orifice situated downstream with respect to the patient's blood flow from the angioplasty balloon. 
     
     
       5. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the injection orifices include at least one upstream injection orifice situated upstream with respect to the patient's blood flow from the angioplasty balloon. 
     
     
       6. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the device is provided with at least two connector pieces, each connector piece being attached in a leaktight manner to one of the conduits. 
     
     
       7. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the multipurpose conduit opens out at the proximal end and at the distal end. 
     
     
       8. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , wherein the multipurpose conduit opens out at an intermediate position between the proximal end and the distal end and at the distal end. 
     
     
       9. The angioplasty device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide wire having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the multipurpose conduit in the end part of the distal part. 
     
     
       10. An angioplasty device comprising:
 a flexible tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and having a proximal part, which includes the proximal end, and a distal part, which includes the distal end, the tubular body comprising: 
 a multipurpose conduit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and opening out at the proximal end, at the distal end, and into one or more injection orifices situated in the distal part, wherein the multipurpose conduit has a first diameter in an end part of the distal part, and has a second diameter greater than said first diameter from the proximal end to the end part of the distal part, such that a guide wire having an external diameter substantially equal to the first diameter can be inserted into the multipurpose conduit, through both the distal end of the multipurpose conduit and the proximal end of the multipurpose conduit, and the tubular body can slide along the guide wire, wherein the multipurpose conduit is configured for injection of a contrast agent of a viscosity in a patient through the proximal end of the multipurpose conduit, and through the one or more injection orifices, when the guide wire is in an inserted configuration in the multipurpose conduit; 
 an inflatable angioplasty balloon positioned around the end part of the multipurpose conduit between the one or more injection orifices and the distal end, such that the tubular body has substantially the same diameter along an entire length thereof; 
 an inflation conduit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and opening out at the proximal end and into the angioplasty balloon, such that injection of a fluid into the angioplasty balloon inflates the angioplasty balloon, the inflation conduit being leaktight with respect to the multipurpose conduit. 
 
     
     
       11. The angioplasty device of  claim 10 , wherein the injection orifices are distributed radially about the tubular body. 
     
     
       12. The angioplasty device of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal end of the device is provided with at least two connector pieces each connector piece being attached in a leaktight manner to one of the conduits. 
     
     
       13. The angioplasty device of  claim 10 , wherein the multipurpose conduit opens out at the proximal end. 
     
     
       14. The angioplasty device of  claim 10 , wherein the multipurpose conduit opens out at an intermediate position between the proximal end and the distal end. 
     
     
       15. The angioplasty device of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide wire having an external diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the multipurpose conduit in the end part of the distal part. 
     
     
       16. An angioplasty device comprising:
 a flexible tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and having a proximal part, which includes the proximal end, and a distal part, which includes the distal end, the tubular body comprising: 
 a multipurpose conduit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and opening out at the proximal end, at the distal end and into one or more injection orifices situated in the distal part, wherein the multipurpose conduit has a first cross-sectional area and a first diameter in an end part of the distal part, and has a second cross-sectional area greater than said first cross-sectional area from the proximal end to the end part of the distal part, such that a guide wire having an external diameter substantially equal to the first diameter can be inserted into the multipurpose conduit, through both the distal end of the multipurpose conduit and the proximal end of the multipurpose conduit, and the tubular body can slide along the guide wire, 
 wherein the multipurpose conduit is configured for injection of a contrast agent of a viscosity in a patient through the proximal end of the multipurpose conduit, and through the one or more injection orifices, when the guide wire is in an inserted configuration in the multipurpose conduit, 
 an inflatable angioplasty balloon positioned around the tubular body in the distal part; and 
 an inflation conduit extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and opening out at the proximal end and into the angioplasty balloon, such that injection of a fluid into the angioplasty balloon inflates the angioplasty balloon, the inflation conduit being leaktight with respect to the multipurpose conduit.